For a few years straight starting around 1990, the Skydiggers’ debut album rarely left my cassette player. (That’s right – I said cassette. LOL.) I had been introduced to lead singer Andy Maize’s voice through his backing vocals for Andrew Cash, while Andrew’s brother Peter Cash was the other lead singer and guitarist – lead guitar player/singer Josh Finlayson rounded out the three up front. Hailing from the same Toronto folk/roots music scene that gave us Blue Rodeo, Cash, and the Grievous Angels, (among others) the Skydiggers weren’t as poppy as some of the others. In fact, I’d say they were alt. country before there was such a thing (or at least before it was given that label), often bringing in pedal steel player Lewis Melville to play on their songs, which made me realize it had a place outside of “classic” country. The Skydiggers was that they were really two separate writing teams – they did occasionally write as a full band, but for the most part, Maize/Finlayson wrote together, and Peter Cash wrote on his own. Even after Cash walked in 1996, the The Cash Brothers continued to collaborate with the Diggers from time to time and released an acoustic album together.
I chose this video because it was the first Skydiggers song most of us ever heard, because it is kind of raw, and because it has Peter back in the group, as he joins them for gigs from time to time. Enjoy!

March

Finally some Canadiana! Andrew Cash is a guy most Americans won’t know, but whose songwriting and performance I fell in love with from the first note of Smile Me Down. There is a rich legacy of Canadian singer-songwriters, and Andrew channeled them all as he took his rightful place among them. His look was…curious. His stage presence captured the high energy zeitgeist of the 80s Toronto alternative folk punk scene he had come from. (Andrew has a close association with the Skydiggers, which featured brother Peter, and Charlie Angus, with whom he was in L'Etranger.) But his music and lyrics retained a folk sensibility that was so familiar to me because of the music I’d grown up with. It was tenderness tinged with toughness and sometimes outright outrage at political and social injustice – I’ve reached for that in my own songwriting. Andrew Cash went on to serve as a Member of Parliament for Canada’s NDP / Le NPD du Canada alongside Charlie Angus...think a couple of young Bernie Sanders' with guitars. I once drove through a snowstorm from Kapuskasing to North Bay to see him play at a little bar. (He thought I was nuts, and I’m pretty sure I scared him a little…even a lot. LOL.) Could have died, but I still have the signed ticket stub!
**A note about this video - it's pretty bad quality, I know, but as a guy who has devoted more time to politics than music these past many years, there isn't as much kicking around on YouTube as I might like performance-wise, for Andrew, and this is, after all, a video series. In a way, though, this takes me back, as it is, after all, the first way many of us saw him - on MUCH Music. (Love the video of a video thing - reminds me of taping music off the radio. LOL.)

January

Throwback Thursday! Here is a CBC doc on Blue Rodeo in 1993 during the making of Five Days In July, with guest appearances by Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson of the Skydiggers, Sarah McLachlan, Anne Bourne, Andrew Cash, Ian Blurton and others. Features performances of songs from Five Days, Nowhere to Here and Tremelo in their nascent form, shot at the Horseshoe Tavern and Greg's farmhouse. This captures an important moment in the band's evolution and a great celebration of music.

I met Thomas Mulcair and his wife Catherine in Toronto a few weeks ago. They both made a warm and genuine impression on me. I was invited to town by MP Andrew Cash to support Canada’s NDP / Le NPD du Canada announcement for Arts and Culture funding and development. Musicians, actors, writers, producers, promoters, agents, technicians, artists, and more, were all there to show support for the New Democrats! I would like to take a moment to extend a thank you to the exciting, hard working and impressive MPs who I have had the pleasure of watching in action, and sometimes working with. Megan Leslie Nathan Cullen Ted Hsu Charlie Angus Bruce Hyer Elizabeth May Peggy Nash
I do hope that Linda McQuaig Jennifer Hollett Olivia Chow Noah Richler John Fenik and other caring and competent public servants join you in your continued work in the House of Commons!
Happy voting tomorrow Canada!

"Andrew Cash is a fierce advocate for students, interns and young people across Canada. Andrew has been a fabulous MP and will certainly continue to bring about positive change!"
-Claire Seaborn, Canadian Intern Association

"Has there been a more active MP for any federal party in Toronto than the NDP's Andrew Cash? He's been the biggest booster in the House of the city's arts and culture ever since assuming his seat in 2011, not to mention an effective advocate for the working poor. As a rookie MP, Cash introduced the Urban Worker Strategy targeting unpaid internships and precarious employment. Besides being a great guy - and former NOW Magazine contributor - he's a dead ringer for Tommy Douglas."
-NOW Magazine, October 15, 2015

This Sunday, one day before Election Day, Tom is coming back to Toronto for our last rally of the campaign. Will you be there to show everyone that change starts in Toronto?
Sunday, October 18th at 11:30 am
Westin Harbour Castle Conference Centre
Metro Ballroom
11 Bay St., Toronto
RSVP online at http://www.ndp.ca/rally-toronto

"Andrew’s commitment to arts, to urban workers, to issues that matter in our city, is second to none. He has shown himself to be Toronto’s champion, time and again, because he truly understands the many challenges and possibilities that face our city.
I hope you will join me in supporting him."
-Stephen Lewis, former Canadian Ambassador to the UN
Show your support for Andrew Cash. Commit to vote at http://andrewcash.ndp.ca/commit

"He's been the biggest booster in the House of the city's arts and culture ever since assuming his seat in 2011, not to mention an effective advocate for the working poor. As a rookie MP, Andrew Cash introduced the Urban Worker Strategy targeting unpaid internships and precarious employment. Besides being a great guy - and former NOW Magazine contributor - he's a dead ringer for Tommy Douglas."

"We couldn't ask for a better MP in Davenport than Andrew Cash, but we need your support over the last few days of this campaign to make sure that he is re-elected. The more volunteers we have, the more supporters we can get out to vote."
-Jonah Schein
Sign up for Andrew's election day team http://goo.gl/forms/t46hLYKDkw

The NDP "recently announced a set of measures it says are specifically geared to tackling precarious employment — including easing eligibility requirements for employment insurance. While in opposition, the party introduced a number of bills to directly tackle precarious employment."

Our stellar MP, Andrew Cash has been a tireless advocate for our community, raising issues that other politicians continue to ignore - like addressing the mounting pressures facing precarious workers.
It's getting down to the wire and we need to make sure Andrew is re-elected.
Despite Andrew's incredible hard work, the Liberals (who held this riding for 50 years up until 2011) believe they can take it back.
That's why they are sending Justin Trudeau into Davenport this afternoon.
Please get in touch today to let us know when you can volunteer a few hours over these last few days of the campaign.
Thank you,
Jonah
Andrew Cash NDP Campaign Office
1176 Davenport
647-290-3040
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2015/10/13/workers-looking-for-hope-but-federal-leaders-offering-little.html

"As public school trustee for Davenport I'm proud to work with Andrew Cash. He is a champion for Davenport and understands how critical schools are, for students and families and as hubs for healthy neighborhoods. He is a committed, passionate fighter for our community."
-Marit Stiles, TDSB Trustee

Dozens of volunteers took to the street and phones this weekend to remind people across Davenport to vote in advance. We'll need even more for Election Day. Come join us; visit http://andrewcash.ndp.ca/volunteer to sign up

"Andrew has dedicated himself to supporting members of our community, immigrants and precarious workers, who are too often left behind. He has stood up for them in Ottawa and worked to build a more inclusive community here in Toronto."
Alejandra Bravo, Ward 17 Davenport resident

"Andrew was an early supporter of the #NoTaxOnTampons campaign. Andrew told me that people always say things can’t change. He then told me that I had proven them all wrong."
Jill Piebiak, Founder, #NoTaxOnTampons

"Andrew has a passion for music and the arts and he knows how important they are to a healthy community.
He has worked with local artists and performers to promote the arts in our neighborhoods, he has helped provide employment opportunities for youth, and he has been a champion for culture in Ottawa.
I'm proud to support Andrew Cash, he has truly made a difference in our community!"
Gili Zemer
Drum Artz Canada Founder

"I support Andrew Cash because he believes in our community. He works to bring people together on issues that matter because he knows that when neighbours come together we can achieve amazing things."
Jutta Mason, Founder, Friends of Dufferin Grove Park

Today we launched the NDP's Toronto plaform, entitled Building a Better Toronto.
It's a bold and progressive plan that will make important change in lives of millions of Canadians in cities across the country. Read it here.